At least not unless Alireza Firouzja qualifies. (HT: Allen Becker) That would be a pity, for several reasons: he would miss out on the chance to break the record of successful title defenses held by Emanuel Lasker and Garry Kasparov, it would undermine the value of the World Championship title, and it might even undermine his brand. Casual tennis fans know if a player wins Wimbledon, and golf fans know who wins the Masters. Who finishes the season number one on the ATP or PGA rankings? Serious fans do, and the players do, but for most of us the answer is: Who cares? (And sometimes it's even worse. I remember a few years ago Serena Williams won two or three of the four Grand Slam events, while someone else - maybe Victoria Azarenka? - finished the year #1. The main effect that had was to lead to widespread criticism of the way tennis rankings were calculated.)
We'll see what happens. He'a grown man, and can do as he pleases. He wouldn't be the first world champion whose whims undermined the value of the title; indeed, those who didn't may even be in the minority. Before FIDE took over the title after Alexander Alekhine's death, champions often treated the title as if it was their personal possession, often making it as difficult as possible for challengers who posed a threat to get a shot at a title. After FIDE took over, it didn't get much better: there was the champion getting draw odds and rematches, for starters.
Anyway, we'll see what happens. Is it time for the World Chess Championship as we know it to be done away with? Or is the insitution fine, even if after eight years it has left Carlsen understandably tired of, and bored with, having to spend a third to half a year every couple of years preparing for and then playing these matches?